Woman dragged by truck near Lake Calhoun, hospitalized is identified

The woman who was struck and dragged by a commercial truck near Lake Calhoun was identified Thursday by police.

Caitlan C. Barton, 25, of Savage, was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center on Wednesday and was in critical condition nearly 24 hours later, a hospital spokeswoman said Thursday.

The driver of the box truck had been heading south on Market Plaza shortly after 6:15 p.m. out of a shopping center, police said. When he made a right-hand turn onto W. Lake Street, the side of the truck struck Barton, said police spokesman John Elder.

The truck driver apparently did not see Barton, who was dragged about a quarter of a block, Elder said.

Barton had the green light for pedestrians’ right of way at the time, he said.

Emergency response was particularly swift because a fire station was nearby, as was a police officer in a squad car.

The commercial truck driver, a courier, was described by authorities as distraught and cooperating with police.